Compulsory admission is associated with an increased risk of readmission in patients with schizophrenia: a 7-year, population-based, retrospective cohort study

A predictive model for readmission within 1-year post-discharge in patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is a pervasive and severe mental disorder characterized by significant disability and high rates of recurrence. The persistently high rates of readmission after discharge present a serious challenge and source of stress in treating this population. Early identification of this risk is critical for implementing targeted interventions. The present study aimed to develop an easy-to-use predictive instrument for identifying the risk of readmission within 1-year post-discharge among schizophrenia patients in China.

METHODS

A prediction model, based on static factors, was developed using data from 247 schizophrenia inpatients admitted to the Mental Health Center in Wuxi, China, from July 1 to December 31, 2020. For internal validation, an additional 106 patients were included. Multivariate Cox regression was applied to identify independent predictors and to create a nomogram for predicting the likelihood of readmission within 1-year post-discharge. The model's performance in terms of discrimination and calibration was evaluated using bootstrapping with 1000 resamples.

RESULTS

Multivariate cox regression demonstrated that involuntary admission (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 4.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13-8.86), repeat admissions (aHR 3.49, 95% CI 2.08-5.85), the prescription of antipsychotic polypharmacy (aHR 2.16, 95% CI 1.34-3.48), and a course of disease ≥ 20 years (aHR 1.80, 95% CI 1.04-3.12) were independent predictors for the readmission of schizophrenia patients within 1-year post-discharge. The area under the curve (AUC) and concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram constructed from these four factors were 0.820 and 0.780 in the training set, and 0.846 and 0.796 for the validation set, respectively. Furthermore, the calibration curves of the nomogram for both the training and validation sets closely approximated the ideal diagonal line. Additionally, decision curve analyses (DCAs) demonstrated a significantly better net benefit with this model.

CONCLUSIONS

A nomogram, developed using pre-discharge static factors, was designed to predict the likelihood of readmission within 1-year post-discharge for patients with schizophrenia. This tool may offer clinicians an accurate and effective way for the timely prediction and early management of psychiatric readmissions.

Identification of factors associated with hospitalization in an outpatient population with mental health conditions: a case-control study

Introduction

Addressing relevant determinants for preserved person-centered rehabilitation in mental health is still a major challenge. Little research focuses on factors associated with psychiatric hospitalization in exclusive outpatient settings. Some variables have been identified, but evidence across studies is inconsistent. This study aimed to identify and confirm factors associated with hospitalization in a specific outpatient population.

Methods

A retrospective monocentric case-control study with 617 adult outpatients (216 cases and 401 controls) from a French community-based care facility was conducted. Participants had an index outpatient consultation between June 2021 and February 2023. All cases, who were patients with a psychiatric hospitalization from the day after the index outpatient consultation and up to 1 year later, have been included. Controls have been randomly selected from the same facility and did not experience a psychiatric hospitalization in the 12 months following the index outpatient consultation. Data collection was performed from electronic medical records. Sociodemographic, psychiatric diagnosis, historical issues, lifestyle, and follow-up-related variables were collected retrospectively. Uni- and bivariate analyses were performed, followed by a multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Visit to a psychiatric emergency within a year (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 13.02, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.32-23.97), drug treatment discontinuation within a year (aOR: 6.43, 95% CI: 3.52-12.03), history of mental healthcare without consent (aOR: 5.48, 95% CI: 3.10-10.06), medical follow-up discontinuation within a year (aOR: 3.17, 95% CI: 1.70-5.95), history of attempted suicide (aOR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.48-4.30) and unskilled job (aOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.10-0.65) are the independent variables found associated with hospitalization for followed up outpatients.

Conclusions

Public health policies and tools at the local and national levels should be adapted to target the identified individual determinants in order to prevent outpatients from being hospitalized.

Schizophrenia Patients Discharged on Clozapine Plus Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics From a Public Psychiatric Hospital in Taiwan, 2006-2021

BACKGROUND

Some schizophrenia patients treated with clozapine experience an inadequate response and adherence problems. The purpose of this study was to compare time to rehospitalization within 6 months in schizophrenia patients discharged on 3 clozapine regimens. Additionally, the temporal trend of prescription rate in each group was also explored.

METHODS

Schizophrenia patients discharged from the study hospital from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2021, (n = 3271) were included in the analysis. The type of clozapine prescribed at discharge was divided into 3 groups: clozapine plus long-acting injectable antipsychotics (clozapine + LAIs), clozapine plus other oral antipsychotics (clozapine + OAPs), and clozapine monotherapy. Survival analysis was used to compare time to rehospitalization within 6 months after discharge among the 3 groups. The temporal trend in the prescription rate of each group was analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage Trend test.

RESULTS

Patients discharged on clozapine + LAIs had a significantly longer time to rehospitalization than those on clozapine + OAPs or clozapine monotherapy. The prescription rates of clozapine + LAIs and clozapine + OAPs significantly increased over time, whereas the prescription rates of clozapine monotherapy significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the clozapine + OAPs group, the clozapine + LAIs group had a lower risk of rehospitalization and a lower dose of clozapine prescribed. Therefore, if a second antipsychotic is required for patients who are taking clozapine alone, LAIs should be considered earlier.

Determinants of compulsory hospitalisation at admission and in the course of inpatient treatment in people with mental disorders-a retrospective analysis of health records of the four psychiatric hospitals of the city of Cologne

BACKGROUND

We aimed to identify differences in predictors of involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation depending on whether the inpatient stay was involuntary right from the beginning since admission or changed from voluntary to involuntary in the course of in-patient treatment.

METHODS

We conducted an analysis of 1,773 mental health records of all cases treated under the Mental Health Act in the city of Cologne in the year 2011. 79.4% cases were admitted involuntarily and 20.6% were initially admitted on their own will and were detained later during the course of in-patient stay. We compared the clinical, sociodemographic, socioeconomic and environmental socioeconomic data (ESED) of the two groups. Finally, we employed two different machine learning decision-tree algorithms, Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) and Random Forest.

RESULTS

Most of the investigated variables did not differ and those with significant differences showed consistently low effect sizes. In the CHAID analysis, the first node split was determined by the hospital the patient was treated at. The diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, an affective disorder, age, and previous outpatient treatment as well as the purchasing power per 100 inhabitants in the living area of the patients also played a role in the model. In the Random Forest, age and the treating hospital had the highest impact on the accuracy and decrease in Gini of the model. However, both models achieved a poor balanced accuracy. Overall, the decision-tree analyses did not yield a solid, causally interpretable prediction model.

CONCLUSION

Cases with detention at admission and cases with detention in the course of in-patient treatment were largely similar in respect to the investigated variables. Our findings give no indication for possible differential preventive measures against coercion for the two subgroups. There is no need or rationale to differentiate the two subgroups in future studies.

Determination of factors associated with early readmission of patients with mental illness in two cities in Colombia during 2018

INTRODUCTION

Early rehospitalisation in mental health units (SMHUs) is when a patient needs to be readmitted in the first 30 days after receiving discharge, and is mainly due to recurrent decompensation of their mental illness. This phenomenon is related to a worse prognosis and has an impact on the family, social and work environment. Absenteeism from work and additional hospital time are expenses for the health and employment system which have made rehospitalisation a phenomenon of special interest. The present study was carried out with the objective of exploring the factors associated with the readmission of patients with psychiatric illnesses treated in two MHUs during 2018, as well as those modifiable factors that act as protection for this condition.

METHODS

Observational, descriptive study with analytical component of cases and controls in two MHUs in different cities of Colombia. Information was obtained by collecting data from the medical records of patients who were admitted between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018. The data were collected between 20 February and 27 May 2019. The sample was composed of all the patients who met the criteria for early readmission in both institutions. The study group consisted of 113 patients: (28 cases and 85 controls), matched by by the variables: age, sex, place of hospitalisation and diagnosis.

RESULTS

In the two hospital MHUs the diagnoses found were: depression (15.5%), bipolar affective disorder (33.1%) and schizophrenia (37.3%). In Bogotá, the most prevalent was depression (31.1%) and, in Tunja, it was schizophrenia (44.8%). For both institutions, the factor most associated with readmission was alcohol consumption, but other variables of treatment, family nucleus, and individual intervention were also associated with a greater probability of early readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

It was possible to demonstrate that the use of atypical and/or depot antipsychotics, hospitalisations longer than 15 days, and prescriptions of less than three drugs at discharge, reduce the number of early readmissions to MHUs.

Time to rehospitalization in involuntarily hospitalized individuals suffering from schizophrenia discharged on long-acting injectable antipsychotics or oral antipsychotics

BACKGROUND

Involuntarily hospitalized individuals suffering from schizophrenia often have a poorer prognosis after discharge.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze time to rehospitalization within 6 months of discharge in involuntarily hospitalized individuals suffering from schizophrenia discharged on long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) or oral antipsychotics (OAPs). In addition, temporal trends in LAI use at discharge were explored.

METHODS

Involuntarily hospitalized individuals suffering from schizophrenia discharged from the study hospital between 2006 and 2019 (n = 806) were included in the analysis. Survival analysis was used to compare time to rehospitalization within 6 months of discharge between individuals discharged on LAIs and OAPs, and between first-generation antipsychotic (FGA) LAIs and second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) LAIs. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to test whether a temporal trend existed for LAIs use at discharge during the study period.

RESULTS

The LAIs group (n = 231) had a significantly lower rate of rehospitalization and a significantly longer time to rehospitalization than the OAPs group (n = 575). Rehospitalization rate and time to rehospitalization were not significantly different between individuals discharged on FGA-LAIs and SGA-LAIs. LAIs use at discharge grew significantly from 16.77% in 2006 to 50.00% in 2019 (Z = 6.81, p < 0.0001). Among all LAIs, only use of SGA-LAIs at discharge increased significantly (Z = 5.74, p < 0.0001), but not FGA-LAIs.

CONCLUSIONS

LAIs were superior to OAPs in preventing rehospitalization. However, SGA-LAIs were comparable with FGA-LAIs in reducing rehospitalization risk. Use of LAIs increased significantly in discharged involuntarily hospitalized individuals during the study period, especially SGA-LAIs.

Determination of Factors Associated with Early Readmission of Patients with Mental Illness in Two Cities in Colombia During 2018

INTRODUCTION

Early rehospitalisation in mental health units (SMHUs) is when a patient needs to be readmitted in the first 30 days after receiving discharge, and is mainly due to recurrent decompensation of their mental illness. This phenomenon is related to a worse prognosis and has an impact on the family, social and work environment. Absenteeism from work and additional hospital time are expenses for the health and employment system which have made rehospitalisation a phenomenon of special interest. The present study was carried out with the objective of exploring the factors associated with the readmission of patients with psychiatric illnesses treated in two MHUs during 2018, as well as those modifiable factors that act as protection for this condition.

METHODS

Observational, descriptive study with analytical component of cases and controls in two MHUs in different cities of Colombia. Information was obtained by collecting data from the medical records of patients who were admitted between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018. The data were collected between 20 February and 27 May 2019. The sample was composed of all the patients who met the criteria for early readmission in both institutions. The study group consisted of 113 patients: (28 cases and 85 controls), matched by by the variables: age, sex, place of hospitalisation and diagnosis RESULTS: In the two hospital MHUs the diagnoses found were: depression (15.5%), bipolar affective disorder (33.1%) and schizophrenia (37.3%). In Bogotá, the most prevalent was depression (31.1%) and, in Tunja, it was schizophrenia (44.8%). For both institutions, the factor most associated with readmission was alcohol consumption, but other variables of treatment, family nucleus, and individual intervention were also associated with a greater probability of early readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

It was possible to demonstrate that the use of atypical and/or depot antipsychotics, hospitalisations longer than 15 days, and prescriptions of less than three drugs at discharge, reduce the number of early readmissions to MHUs.

Risk factors for repeated emergency compulsory psychiatric admissions

BACKGROUND

The characteristics of patients who have repeated compulsory psychiatric admissions are largely unknown.

AIMS

To investigate the frequency and risk factors for repeated emergency compulsory psychiatric admission (ECPA); and to identify targets for interventions to reduce repeated ECPA.

METHOD

Data were collected from a database of electronic patient files (EPFs) held by three psychiatric emergency services (PES) in the Netherlands. Analyses were based on the data for adult patients (aged 18-75 years) with a first PES contact in 2010-2015. Using descriptive statistics and regression analysis, we studied the associations between baseline patient factors and repeated ECPA and time to readmission, within a 2-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

We included 6059 patients: 15.6% had two or more ECPAs. In total, 66% of second ECPAs had occurred within 6 months of the first. About 30% of all ECPAs were repeated ECPAs. Two baseline factors were associated with a higher frequency of a second ECPA: history of receiving any mental healthcare treatment, whether in-patient or out-patient or both, and a lower level of self-care. Three were associated with a lower frequency: ethnicity (other than Dutch), older age and suicidality. Lower Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores and housing problems were associated with a shorter time to compulsory readmission and persistent psychiatric problems with a longer time to compulsory readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that 15.6% of patients had two or more ECPAs. Two-thirds of the second ECPAs had occurred within 6 months of the first. Like earlier studies, the risk factors we identified suggest that interventions to reduce the risk of repeated compulsory psychiatric admission should seek to improve self-care, general daily functioning and homelessness.

Factors associated with length of stay and readmission in acute psychiatric inpatient services in Portugal

Assessing the factors that influence duration and number of hospitalizations may support mental health services planning and delivery. This study examines the factors associated with length of stay and readmission in Portuguese psychiatric inpatient services during 2002, 2007 and 2012. Data from all admissions were extracted from clinical files. Logistic regression models estimated the association between length of stay (<17 vs ≥17 days) and number of admissions per year (1 vs >1 admission) with sociodemographic, clinical, and contextual factors. Older age, a diagnosis of psychosis, and compulsory admission were associated with higher odds of longer length of stay. Being married, secondary education, suicide attempt, a diagnosis of substance use and "other mental disorders", being admitted in 2012, and two of the psychiatric inpatient services associated with lower odds of longer length of stay. Being retired (or others), a diagnosis of psychosis, compulsory admission, and psychiatric service were associated with increased odds of readmission. Older age, and secondary and higher education were associated with lower odds of readmission. The findings indicate that multiple factors influence length of stay and readmission. Identifying these factors provides useful evidence for clinicians and policy makers to design more targeted and cost-effective interventions.

Voluntary admissions for patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Voluntary admission rates of schizophrenia vary widely across studies. In order to make the topic be informed by evidence, it is important to have accurate estimates. This meta-analysis examined the worldwide prevalence of voluntary admissions for patients with schizophrenia.

METHOD

PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Medline databases were systematically searched, from their commencement date until 19th November 2018. Meta-analysis of included studies was performed using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

Thirty-five studies with 134,100 schizophrenia patients were included. The overall voluntary admission rate of schizophrenia was 61.9 % (95 %CI: 52.3 %-70.7 %), while the involuntary rate was 43.0 % (95 %CI: 34.8 %-51.7 %). Subgroup analyses revealed that patients in Europe had significantly higher voluntary admission rates, while their North American counterparts were more likely admitted involuntarily. Papers published prior to 2008 reported higher involuntary admission rates. Meta-regression analyses showed that higher male percentage and higher study quality were significantly associated with higher voluntary admission rate.

CONCLUSION

Although the worldwide prevalence of voluntary admissions was higher than that of involuntary admissions, the latter was common for schizophrenia. With the continuing liberalization of mental health laws broadening community-based psychiatric services, the rate of voluntary psychiatric admissions is expected to further increase over time.

Clinical and social factors associated with increased risk for involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND

Use of involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation varies widely within and between countries. The factors that place individuals and populations at increased risk of involuntary hospitalisation are unclear, and evidence is needed to understand these disparities and inform development of interventions to reduce involuntary hospitalisation. We did a systematic review, meta-analysis, and narrative synthesis to investigate risk factors at the patient, service, and area level associated with involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation of adults.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Controlled Clinical Register of Trials from Jan 1, 1983, to Aug 14, 2019, for studies comparing the characteristics of voluntary and involuntary psychiatric inpatients, and studies investigating the characteristics of involuntarily hospitalised individuals in general population samples. We synthesised results using random effects meta-analysis and narrative synthesis. Our review follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and is registered on PROSPERO, CRD42018095103.

FINDINGS

77 studies were included from 22 countries. Involuntary rather than voluntary hospitalisation was associated with male gender (odds ratio 1·23, 95% CI 1·14-1·32; p<0·0001), single marital status (1·47, 1·18-1·83; p<0·0001), unemployment (1·43, 1·07-1·90; p=0·020), receiving welfare benefits (1·71, 1·28-2·27; p<0·0001), being diagnosed with a psychotic disorder (2·18, 1·95-2·44; p<0·0001) or bipolar disorder (1·48, 1·24-1·76; p<0·0001), and previous involuntary hospitalisation (2·17, 1·62-2·91; p<0·0001). Using narrative synthesis, we found associations between involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation and perceived risk to others, positive symptoms of psychosis, reduced insight into illness, reduced adherence to treatment before hospitalisation, and police involvement in admission. On a population level, some evidence was noted of a positive dose-response relation between area deprivation and involuntary hospitalisation.

INTERPRETATION

Previous involuntary hospitalisation and diagnosis of a psychotic disorder were factors associated with the greatest risk of involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation. People with these risk factors represent an important target group for preventive interventions, such as crisis planning. Economic deprivation on an individual level and at the population level was associated with increased risk for involuntary hospitalisation. Mechanisms underpinning the risk factors could not be identified using the available evidence. Further research is therefore needed with an integrative approach, which examines clinical, social, and structural factors, alongside qualitative research into clinical decision-making processes and patients' experiences of the detention process.

FUNDING

Commissioned by the Department of Health and funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) via the NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit.